Container



Sept 28, 1943. J. P. H. LEAvrrT ETAL 2,330,294

CONTAINER Filed NOV. 6, 1940 l l 37 L l 7 51 2g A216 46 47 p l f4) l JA f Zu/e/Ltfo/*S/ J3 Jj .fd 53 76/ L/c'zznes/ZPHeaZ/ waffe ZU. ZUeZs' JM www@ I element.

f gated board formed Patented Sept. 28, 1943 CONTAINER James P. H. Leavitt. Wayne, and Earle W. Wells,

Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, Ill., a corpora.-

tion of Delaware Application November 6, 1940, Serial No. 364,476

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to collapsible paperboard containers and more particularly to containers of this type having an inner lining element reinforcing the container and adapting it for the packaging of relatively heavy materials, such for example as metallic bottle caps.

One object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced container of theso-called slotted carton type which is made in tubular form and has top and bottom closure aps extending from each end of the four side walls, the reinforcement being in the form of a lining element permanently secured within the container and collapsible therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lined slotted carton in which,` the lining element is permanently secured to the interior of the carton and is in the form of a tube coaxially related to the carton.

In the drawing: I y

Fig. 1 is a perspective .view of a container and enclosed lining element constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 illustrating the preferred manner of forming fold lines in the lining element;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, illustrating the relative positions of the fold lines at the upper edges of the adjacent side wall panels of the lining element and its enclosing container;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the 'container blank; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank of the lining The container' of the present invention, as herein disclosed, comprises an outer enclosing container and an inner lining element, the container being provided with closures for eiecting complete encompassing of the lining element, and the latter being provided with infolding portions serving as at least a partial closure for the lining element and also'serving to reinforce the container and to assist in keeping the contents of the container free from dust which might other- Wise enter into cartons of the type having extended closure aps to close the ends. f

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the outer enclosing container is designated as a whole at I0 and the lining element is designated as a whole at II.` In the present instance it isl considered preferable to construct the container and lining element from so-called double face corruby attaching two liner sheets to an inner corrugated sheet. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the two liner sheets of the corrugated board from which the outer container is formed are designated at I2 and I3 and the corrugated sheet is designated at I4. The two linear sheets from kwhich the container lining element is formed are designated at I5 and I6 andthe corrugated sheet is designated at I1.

As illustrated in Fig. 4 the blank for the container I0 preferably comprises a single sheet of flexible sheet material, such' as double-face corrugated board, as above stated, the blank being suitably cut and scored to provide fourl interconnected walls, 20, 2|, 22v and 23. One of the walls at the end of the blank, herein illustrated as wall 23, is preferably provided with an attaching ap 24 by which wall 23 may be secured to wall 2D.

The container I0 also preferably includes an upper and lower set of closure flaps, the upper closure flaps being indicated at 25, 26, 21 and 28 connected to the respective walls 2U, 2l, 22 and 23 and lower closure flaps 30, 3|, 32 and` 33 connected respectively to said named Walls.

The -lining element I I preferably is formed from a single blank ofv flexible sheet material such' as corrugated board, such blank being suitably provided or formed with fold lines defining wall panels 35,36, 31 and 38 each of which carry respectively at their upper and lower edges extended portions 40, 4I, 42 and 43; and 44, 45, 46 and 41.

Additional fold lines are providedV or formed,

in extended portions 4I,` 43, 45 and 41, these fold lines are designated at 50, 50 in extended portions 4I and 43 and at 5I, 5I in the extended portions 46 and 41 and are disposed diagonally of the extended portions, preferably at an angle of forty-five degrees from the respective upper and lower edges of lining member walls 36 and 38.

For convenience of reference the fold lines defining extended portionsv from each other at the top of the lining element are designated by numeral 52 and the fold lines dening the extended portions at the bottom of the lining element from each other are designated by the numeral 53. The fold line defining the panels 35, 36, 31 and 38 from the extended portions at the upper edgesv of the panels ,is preferably in the form of an unbroken line extending across the blank and is designated by the numeral 54. Thefold line defining th'ese panels from the extended portions at the lower edges of the panels is also preferably formed as an unbroken line extending across the blank and is designated by the numeral 55.

The ends of the lining element are preferably joined together by a flexible connecting member such as a strip of gummed tape, indicated at B in Fig. 1.

The inner lining lelement is preferably secured to the container by placing it within the container blank while in tubular form preparatory to securing the attaching flap 24 to the wall panel and then inserting staples along the joint so that the staples will pass entirely through the wall 35 of the lining element, the wall 2D of the container and attaching ap 24.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the fold lines 52, 52 are preferably formed by cut-scoring the material of the lining element so that at least the outer liner of the corrugated board is severed. Fold lines 53, 53 are preferably formed in a manner similar to the fold lines 52. The depth of the out is preferably such that it will sever the corrugated layer in the event the corrugated layer is disposed so that its utes extend at an angle to the cut. However, in the case of the flutes of the corrugated board extending in alignment with the cut as indicated in Fig. 2, the corrugated board might not be severed in all cases where the cutting tool was impressed in registry with the trough of a corrugation but it would be severed in the event thecutting tool was aligned with the crest of a corrugation. The important feature is to cut score the corrugated board to such a depth that the only material of the corrugated board that remains to be flexed is that part of the board comprising the liner on the inside surface of the lining member or a portion of the corrugated board adjacent to or adhering directly to such inner liner sheet.

The diagonally disposed fold lines 50, 50 as illustrated in Fig. 2, and the fold lines 5|, 5| are preferably formed by cut-scoring the material of the lining element from the inside so that all the material of the double face corrugated board is severed except the outer liner layer.

The longitudinal fold lines 54 and 55 (see fold line 54, illustrated in Fig. 3) are preferably formed as cut scores in which the cut enters from the outside surface of the material of the lining element and severs all but the inner liner layer.

The effect of forming the fold lines 50 and 52 as cut scores, the former being cut from the inside and the latter being cut from the outside of the lining element, is to create a more or less natural tendency for the central parts of the two opposed extended portions 4| and 43 to fold inwardly and the tendency toward folding in the opposite direction is resisted. The inward swinging movement of the central parts of the extended portions 4| and 43 is also facilitated by the provision of the cut score line 54, such line being formed by cutting inwardly from the outside of the lining element. It is to be noted that swinging of the portions of the material adjacent a line of cut scoring is facilitated in a direction extending from the uncut portion to the cut portion. Thus, as soon as any appreciable flexing occurs along the line of cut scoring any force tending to continue the flexing will serve to reduce the maximum degree of fold without necessitating any increase in the opposing force applied to the relatively swinging parts.

The fold lines 50 and 52 and the fold lines 5| and 53 define between them angular portions at the ends of the extended portions 4| and 43, 45

and 4l. These angular portions are designated at 5l, 58 respectively. In the case of the lining element being formed from corrugated board the angular portions 51 and 58 are relatively rigid. Thus if an inward swinging movement is given to the edges of the angular portion adjacent the corners of the lining element and at the same time a small force is applied to the central portion of the extended portions 4| and 43, the angular portions 5l and 58, being relatively rigid, will force the central portions 4| and 43 down toward a position parallel to the plane of the upper edges of the lining element side walls. During the time when the central parts of the extended portions are being forced down, the trailing edge of each angle portion being required to move in substantially a denite or predetermined plane by reason of its connection with the extended portions 40 and 42, will ultimately be brought to a position adjacent the score line 54. In this position of the parts the central part of the extended portions 4| and 43 will assume a position substantially parallel to the upper edges of the lining element walls and the extended portions 40 and 42 will assume a similar position except that such portion will be in closely overlying relation to the portions 4| and 43 and the extended portions will thus be in a position to at least partly close the end of the lining element.

While it is desirable for the extended portions 4U and 42 to be in the form of relatively rigid panel portions this is not an indispensable feature so long as the angular members are themselves relatively rigid. Thus, when the container end lining element have been assembled and brought to set-up condition and then a flexing force is applied to the extended portions 4| and 43, it is apparent that swinging movement of the parts 4| and 43 will cause a like inward swinging movement of the parts 40 and 42 and, in the same manner an inward swinging movement applied against the parts 40 and 42 will cause the parts 4| and 43 to swing inward, this concurrent or simultaneous movement being caused by the angular connecting members 51. It is possible, therefore, to cause a completed downward swinging of the extended portions on the lining clement by the act of swinging downward the closure flaps 25 and 27 due to the fact that these flaps bear against the adjacent extended portions 40 and 42.

In reference to the function of the cut scores along the lines of juncture between the extended portions 40, 42, 42 and 43, it is to be observed that when the lining element has been brought into tubular form the portions 40 and 43 will be secured together by a flexible securing means such as a strip of gummed tape applied to the outside surface of the lining member. This arrangement deviates somewhat from the principles described above as being preferred. However, in practice, there will be a definite tendency toward free swinging movement of the parts on each side of the line of juncture formed by the gummed tape so that there will be no pronounced difference in action between the corner of the lining element provided by the gummed tape connection as compared with the other three corners of the liner. In any event', even if the action of the parts at the gummed tape corneiof the liner member. is appreciably stiffer or less free, the fact that a major number of the lines of fold provided in the lining element will have tlie folding tendencies described above, will adequately assure that the connected parts will move in proper coordination.

In order to bring the closure parts of the lining element into properly positioned arrangement with respect to the closure parts of the container, the walls of the lining element are so dimensioned as to terminate somewhat short of the ends of the walls of the container. In the present instance, walls 20 to 23, inclusive, will be made of greater axial length than the lining member walls 35 to 38, inclusive. The difference in length is determined by the thickness of the material of the lining element, it being sufiicient that the difference in length is great enough to enable the extended portions of the lining element to be folded down on top of the contents packed therewithin and still permit the overlying extended portions to assume a position :lust inside of the plane defined by the upper edges of the container side walls. Thus, when the container closure flaps are folded down over the down-folded portions of the lining element the closure flaps will lie in planes closely adjacent the plane of the upper edges of the side walls of the container.

In using the container of the present invention the lining element is preferably assembled with the outer container as abcve described at the box factory and the container is delivered to the user in flat condition. The user will expand the container and close one end thereof after which the container is ready to receive the desired contents. If the contents to go into the container are small objects, bottle caps, a pre-determined number of articles can be introduced into the container and the container is then ready for final sealing. Due to the provision of a lining element having closed corners, the articles Within the container can be firmly packed therein without likelihood of any of the articles spilling out ofthe container and without a tendency for the closure flaps of the container becoming bent or torn due to the contents projecting somewhat above the level of the upper edges of the side walls.

After the closure flaps have been folded over and sealed in closed position the container may b e subjected to ordinary handling without any tendency of .the container to draw in dust particles as in the case of ordinary slotted type cartons where dust can enter at the corners of the carton, particularly in cases where the carton is submitted to considerable handling which causes relative flexing of the walls and` closure parts with a consequent breathing of dust laden air into the carton, consequent upon changes in interior volume which take place during ordinary handling.

While the present invention has been described in connection with a tubular collapsible carton having closure flaps at two open ends thereof, it is obvious that the invention is applicable to containers which have only a single opening provided with closure flaps, the other end being closed in some conventional manner. Likewise, it is not required that the lining element extend entirely along the axial length of the container but may be in the form of an end lining element, the walls of the lining element in such case only extending a short distance axially over the Walls of the container.

such, for example, as

While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, numerous changes may be made in the construction without deviating from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A container formed of flexible sheet material having four interconnected side walls adapted to be collapsed to a at condition, means for closing the ends of the container, said closing means for at least one end comprising closure flaps carried by at least, two opposite side walls, a lining element for the container formed from a single blank of double face corrugated board comprising liner sheets secured on opposite sides of a corrugated sheet, said lining element cornprising four hingedly related walls comparable in lateral extent to and secured in position relative to the interior faces of the container side walls, the open end of the lining element adjacent the closure flaps on the container walls being provided with extended portions terminating" at an appreciable distance outwardly along the container closure flaps beyond the line of juncture of said flaps with their respective walls, said extended portions being integrally connected to each other at a plurality of corners of the lining element, two of the extended portions each having converging fold lines therein extending from the upper corners of the lining element diagonally outwardly to its free edge, whereby bellows corner portions are provided adapting the extended portions of the lining element at the corners thereof to be folded into overlapping relation in a plane substantially parallel to the plane defined by the edges of the container side' walls, the lining element having lines of fold therein defining the extended portions from the lining element side walls, the' hinge lines at the integrally connected corners of the lining element being provided by forming cut scores along said corners in which the cuts are directed inwardly through the outer liner sheet and terminate adjacent the surface of the inner liner sheet, the converging fold lines inthe lining element being formed by cut scores extending outwardly through the inner liner sheet and through the corrugated sheet, whereby folding of the bellows lcorner portions in at condition between the downfolded extended portions of the lining element is facilitated.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein one of said side walls has an attaching flap extending therefrom adapting to overlap another of said side walls and wherein the four walls of said liner are secured in position relative to the interior faces of the container side walls substantially by a plurality of staples each of which passes through said attaching flap, the container side wall overlapped thereby, and an adjacent wall of said liner. 

